This turnaround isn’t simply nice. It’s exceptional. Hollywood couldn’t write a greater script. 

Take Ime Udoka: Round Christmas, Udoka seemed overmatched. This was the ex-Gregg Popovich assistant who appeared to suppose he was Pop, a taskmaster with out the resumé to again it up. However Udoka caught to his ideas—and his switching defensive scheme—broke the Celtics of some unhealthy offensive habits and turned Boston into a contemporary model of the early ’90s Pistons. Udoka received’t get a whiff of consideration for Coach of the Yr however attempt to discover one who has been extra impactful.

Stated Jayson Tatum, “I’m glad we received him.”

Or Marcus Sensible. Sensible seemed to be on skinny ice when Brad Stevens took over as president of basketball operations final spring. Stevens soured some on Sensible final season. Didn’t like his shot choice. Or his occasional immaturity. Coming into the final yr of his contract, Sensible seemed like a commerce candidate. As an alternative, Stevens locked him up with a four-year extension, Udoka handed him the purpose guard place and Sensible has thrived. He had 11 assists via three quarters in Recreation 4. He completed with one turnover. Irving shot 43% on this sequence. He has Sensible to thank for it.

He nonetheless has the occasional head-scratcher—chasing an inconceivable steal on Durant late within the fourth quarter, leaving Irving open for a late three—however his productive, game-changing performs far outnumber the reckless ones. Udoka likened the Sensible expertise to Popovich’s with Manu Ginobili, a free-wheeling guard who performed a key position in 4 Spurs championships.

“Pop would simply say ‘That’s Manu being Manu,’” Udoka stated. “You reside with it as a result of you realize he’s going to finish up making the appropriate play as a rule.”

Tatum, already one of many NBA’s greatest scorers, improved as a passer. He handed out a career-best 4.4 assists this season. In opposition to Brooklyn, he averaged 7.3. When the Nets weren’t nervous about Tatum slashing to the basket or burying threes, they had been annoyed by his willingness to make the additional move. With the clock winding down within the second quarter, Tatum, studying a double staff, whipped a move to Grant Williams within the nook. Williams knocked down a 3, extending Boston’s halftime result in eight.

“I knew I needed to be on high of my sport on this sequence,” Tatum stated. “However I wasn’t stunned by how I performed. I do really feel like I am probably the greatest gamers.”

Jaylen Brown, who battled accidents and COVID points early within the season, performed like an All-Star within the second half. Robert Williams developed right into a high-level two-way heart. Grant Williams emerged as a flexible defender and an elite corner-three shooter. Al Horford, reacquired for Kemba Walker final summer season, has been a steadying presence on each ends of the ground. The commerce deadline deal that shipped out Dennis Schroder not solely introduced again Daniel Theis however opened up enjoying time for Payton Pritchard, who shot 47.3% from three after the All-Star break.

4 months in the past, Boston seemed like a lottery staff. At the moment, they’re a respectable risk to win a championship. There’s a surliness to those Celtics. “It’s us versus all people,” Sensible stated. “That’s the mentality that we now have, and that’s the mentality that we’re going to maintain.” They will defend anybody. Tatum might be the perfect participant in any sequence—together with a possible second-round matchup with Milwaukee. What as soon as seemed like a dysfunctional staff, extremely, may really be the NBA’s greatest. 

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